In letters dated July 13, Sena (UBT) MP and parliamentary leader Arvind Sawant informed each of the six MPs that they had contested and secured their positions in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections using the Shiv Sena (UBT) symbol and under Uddhav Thackeray’s leadership, having previously battled against candidates from Shinde’s faction.
“The original political party has neither initiated, agreed to nor permitted any merger with the Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde,” Sawant stated. He noted that the party learned via public reports that the MPs were claiming a merger with Shinde’s faction and had approached Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla for recognition of this alleged merger.
Referencing Paragraph 4 of the Tenth Schedule to the Constitution, Sawant indicated that a merger of a legislative party could only take place if the original political party merged first.
“Without any merger of the original political party, the question of the legislature party merging does not arise. Moreover, no such merger is allowed or anticipated under the law,” he asserted.
Sawant also mentioned that the Lok Sabha Speaker had been informed that recognition requests for any merger or separate group of MPs affiliated with the Shiv Sena (UBT) should not be considered.
He added that the Speaker had yet to issue any order acknowledging any claims of merger.
Out of the nine Lok Sabha MPs from Shiv Sena (UBT), six—Sanjay Deshmukh (Yavatmal), Sanjay Jadhav (Parbhani), Sanjay Dina Patil (Mumbai North East), Nagesh Patil-Ashtikar (Hingoli), Omprakash Rajenimbalkar (Dharashiv), and Bhausaheb Wakchaure (Shirdi)—joined the Shinde-led faction on June 22.
The Lok Sabha Speaker’s decision regarding their claim has not been made public; however, Shinde has asserted that all legal processes have been fulfilled.
In response to the notices, Shinde remarked on Tuesday that the rebel MPs had already met with the Lok Sabha Speaker, provided the required documents, and completed all procedural obligations.
“Our MPs have discarded the letter. Who pays attention to such correspondence? The crucial aspect in the House is having a two-thirds majority. The six MPs have met the Lok Sabha Speaker, submitted their letter, and completed all necessary formalities. This is merely a desperate move by the Thackeray camp. Their letter will not affect the MPs in any way,” Shinde stated.
The majority of the rebel MPs chose not to comment, mentioning that Shinde had already addressed the matter on their behalf. Hingoli MP Nagesh Ashtikar confirmed receipt of Sawant’s letter but expressed no intention to respond.
“I received the letter and see no reason to reply to it,” Ashtikar remarked.
According to the Shiv Sena, the six Lok Sabha MPs met with Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday, who assured them of full support from the Centre for development initiatives in their constituencies.
Shah welcomed the MPs and guaranteed that there would be no lack of central assistance, including funding, for welfare projects and development initiatives in their areas, as stated by the party.
